Page 996 - Small Animal Internal Medicine, 6th Edition

968 PART VIII Reproductive System Disorders

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FIG 55.13
Distal pelvic limb pitting edema in a pregnant Labrador
Retriever.

FIG 55.15
Marked vulvar and perineal edema in a Boxer bitch at term
gestation. Cesarean section was performed.

Neonatal survival is directly related to the quality of labor.
Optimal management of whelping/queening requires an
understanding of normal labor and delivery in the bitch and
queen, as well as the clinical ability to detect abnormalities
in the birthing process.
EUTOCIA
Bitches typically enter stage I labor within 24 hours of a
decline in serum progesterone to below 2.0 to 5.0 ng/mL,
which occurs in conjunction with elevated circulating pros-
taglandins and is commonly (~60% detection) associated
with a transient drop in body temperature, usually to below
100° F (33.7° C). Queens typically enter stage I labor 24
hours after serum progesterone falls to less than 2.0 ng/mL.
FIG 55.14 Monitoring serial progesterone concentrations for impend-
Mammary edema in a Labrador Retriever bitch in the eighth ing labor is problematic because in-house canine kits
week of gestation. enabling rapid results are inherently less accurate between
2.0 and 5.0 ng/mL, and a rapid decline in progesterone levels
PARTURITION AND PARTURIENT can occur over a period of a few hours. Commercial labora-
DISORDERS tories offering quantitative progesterone by chemilumines-
cence typically have a 12- to 24-hour turnaround time, which
Although many bitches and queens deliver in the home or is not rapid enough to enable decisions about an immediate
kennel/cattery setting without difficulty, requests for veteri- indication for obstetrical intervention. If progesterone is
nary obstetric assistance are becoming more common. The <2 ng/mL, labor is imminent.
increased financial and emotional value of stud dogs, brood Stage I labor in the bitch normally lasts from 12 to 24
bitches, toms, queens, and their offspring to the pet fancier hours, during which time the uterus has myometrial con-
makes preventable loss of even one neonate undesirable. tractions of increasing frequency and strength, associated
Breeding colonies in academic, scientific, and industrial with cervical dilation. No abdominal effort (visible external
facilities have to maximize neonatal survival for financial contractions) is evident during stage I labor. Bitches and
and ethical reasons. Veterinary involvement in canine and queens can exhibit changes in disposition and behavior
feline obstetrics has several goals: to increase live births during stage I labor, becoming reclusive, restless, and nesting
(minimizing stillbirths due to difficulties in the birth process), intermittently, often refusing to eat and sometimes vomiting.
minimize morbidity and mortality in the dam, and promote Panting and trembling can occur. Vaginal discharge is clear
increased survival of neonates during the first week of life. and watery, sometimes voluminous.